Concentration in Public Policy

UNDERGRADUATE 

The Concentration in Public Policy and Administration is ideal for students interested in careers in public and community service, government, or other organizations that design and implement public policies. Well-suited for students majoring in Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, History, Communications, Sustainability, Global Leadership and Management, or Health Care, it will benefit all students who wish to work in the public arena and address questions associated with health care, education, urban affairs, labor, poverty, and the environment, to name a few.

Students focusing on public policy generally include quantitative and research courses in their selections. Students focusing on public administration choose courses that provide skills in day-to-day management of public sector operations. Please contact your advisor if you have questions and to select appropriate courses for your program.

This concentration may only be pursued in combination with a bachelor’s degree program in the School of Continuing & Professional Studies. To declare a concentration in Public Policy, students will need to discuss adding the concentration with their advisor.

Course Work

Students should be familiar with economics and statistics concepts, either from knowledge based on previous background or experience or gained by course work in the following courses:

  • Introduction to Microeconomics (U07 101M or U07 1011) 
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics (U07 102M or U07 1021)
  • an Introductory Statistics course

REQUIRED COURSE: 3 UNITS

  • Introduction to Public Policy (U25 382)

ADDITIONAL COURSES: 12 UNITS

6 of these 12 units must be at the 300- or 400-level and selected from the list below (other courses allowed with approval).

  • Environmental Economics (U07 355)
  • Econometric Techniques (U07 414)
  • Urban Economics (U07 4601)
  • Environmental Law: Applications toward Sustainability (U19 328)
  • Environmental & Energy Issues (U25 3312)
  • Leadership for Organizational Success (U44 305)
  • Healthcare Reform & Policy (U86 355)
  • Planning Sustainable & Racially Equitable Urban Communities (U19 319)
  • Business Ethics (U22 234) or Biomedical Ethics (U22 233)
    At most, only one counts toward the concentration.
  • Applied Statistics (U20 205)
  • Introduction to GIS (U90 200)

Student Success Navigators

Every CAPS student is paired with a Student Success Navigator at the time of admission to help you navigate your path and needs. We will provide you with the tools to make each moment spent on your education as valuable as possible. Students will receive:

  • individual appointments with an experienced Student Success Navigator;
  • career planning services to prepare you for opportunities after graduation;
  • a partner throughout your journey to ensure success.

HOURS
Student Success Navigators are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.